Four yarn overplaid knitting machine



March 14, 1961 N. LEVIN FOUR YARN OVERPLAID KNITTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 9, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

March 14, 1961 LEvlN 2,974,505

FOUR YARN OVERPLAID KNITTING MACHINE March 14, 1961 N. LEVIN 2,974,505

FOUR YARN OVERPLAID KNITTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 9, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR.

a 1 4 1 78 a 2 vl/llllllllll/z l n v/allmlylll, a,

. a H 1 V I g F 5 Unlted States Patent ice meme, i ,1 ,9

' I 1 r v i I 2 half diamond shaped .fabric areas of one side of the hose,

usually knit upon feed No. 2 of the machine, are indicated at 24, 25, and 26, respectively. The upper half 2 974 505 diamond, the middle diamond, and the lower half dia- 5 mond shaped fabric areas of the other side of the hose, :FOUR YARN OVERPLAID KNITTING MACHINE usually knit upon feed No. 4 of the machine, are indicated I at 27, :28, and 29, respectively. Each of the several sepa- Nathan 722 Edgewoad Trenton rate fabric areas 20 through 29 is joined to the other Filed Dec. 9, 195.7, Ser. No. 701,459 fabric areas adjacent thereto by suture seams indicated a 10 at 30.

24 Gaims' 66 43) The fabric of Fig. 2 is provided with an overplaid design formed by four yarns indicated at 31, 32, 33, and

34, each yarn being knit in the general shape of a zig-zag 4 line so disposed that its straight line portions extend The present invention relates generally to the art of across suture seams 30 from the centers of designated knitting and more particularly to circular knitting maones of the diamond shaped areas. The yarn 31 comchinery adapted to form overplaid designs of overplaid mences knitting at the center of side half diamond 24, yarns within Suture joined areas of separate fabric sec-. continues diagonally across suture line 30 to the center tions-ofargyle hosiery, or the like. of upper rear diamond 22, then diagonally across suture It is an object of the present invention to provide a line 30 to the center of side diamond 25, then diagonally four feed circular knitting machine with means to knit 2. across .suture line 30 to the center of lower rear diamond true overplaid design in solid color suture joined pattern 23, and finally diagonally across suture line 30 to the areas of argyle hosiery by the use of only four overp'laid center of lower side diamond 26, where the knitting of design yarns each of which is adapted to knit to be inoverplaid yarn 31 terminates. The path of overplaid corporated in a plurality of said pattern areas knit fat yarn 33, as it is knit and as it extends from the center each of a plurality of feeds of the machine. of side half diamond 27, to the center of front diamond 'It is a further object of the present invention to pro- 20, to the center of side diamond 28, to the center of vide four yarn guides for the four overplaid design'yarns frontdiamond 21, and then to the center of side half used and to associate each of the yarn guides with fan Jdiamond"29,-is generally parallel to the path of the yarn adjoining pair of said pattern :areas knit at an adjoining, :The knitting paths of the yarns 32 and 34 are pair of feeds of the machine in such manner that each paralleland are reversely similar to the paths of the of said yarn guides may be operated to :cause its Joveryarns J31 and 33; The yarn 32 extends from the center plaid design yarn to be selectively knit in :one and in the of side halfdiamond 2 4 (where yarn 31 also starts) to other of itsasso'ciated pair of areas. the eenter o'f-v fron't diamond 20 where it meets yarn 33,

These and other objects of the invention 'will become 35 nothe'ienter-bf side diamond 25 where it meets yam 31, apparent from the following detailed description of a lto' the centerof front diamond .21 where it again meets preferred form of the mechanism shown in the =a :com-' f=yarn 33, and finally to the center of lower side half diapanying drawings, and from the appended claims. 'fnond 26'where it again meets yarn 31. The yarn 34 ex- .nisrn shown in Fig. 3, with one of the overplaid yarn-5 In the drawings: tends from the center of side half diamond 27 (where yarn Fig. 1 is a plan view of the present ,IIIVBIIUOD shown in 40 .33 5 1 to h center f rear diam d 22 h re it position on a four feed R ading CK ma hin w h t meets yarn 31, to the center of side diamond 28 where it ovfifplaid Y fingers their neutral P i meetslyarn 33., to the center of rear diamond 23 where it 2 is a diagrammatic 116W 0f the POYtiOH'Of again meets yarn'31, and finally to the'center of lower argyle hflsecut along its e r central W le pread side diamond-2.9 where it again meets yarn 33. While flat,

Fig 3 is a perspective view of 'the carn mechanism, of the present invention for selectively moving the-'overplai yarn ifingers, Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of thecamanecha 45 each of the Joverplaid yarns 31, 32, 33, and .34, are rranged in a walewise extending zig-zag path, it will appreciated; that certain straight line sections of these yarns, for example, the sections extending between ecenter portionsof areas 22, 24; 24, 20; 20, 27; and 27,22; :are arranged in a circumferentially or coursewise s Shown mounted. p the sinker i f th extending zi za path. Similarly, the suture lines as machlne, Y aybe conside'red, in relation to certain of the fabric a diagrammatlc Vlew ,Showlng five 1 as, being arranged in a walewise extending zig-zag tions an am the Cam mechanism mates the .ath, while, in relation to' other of the fabric areas, they sverplaldiyarn fingers, i maybe-considered as-being arranged in a circumferentig- 1S a s q 'theapparatus taken alc'ng afer coursewise extending zig-zag path. The machine the and "is a dapted to knit opposite pairs of diamond shaped areas Flgs- 7 through 10 are dlaglammatlc VIEWS Showmg of the hosiery at correspondingly opposite pairs offeeds the several positions of the overplaid yarn fingers in relaf machine while the intervening pail-S f fe d tion to the several feeding stations of the machine during incorporate the f ur yam overpjaid design therein. w e i P no overplaid yarns arebeing'knit intojthe diamond shaped In the Portlon an Y i areas, the machine is adapted to knit the unadorned porits 9 ankle Portions. has been shown in fia tions thereof upon all four feeds of the machine at the relation as it would "appear with the legfabric severed along its rear central wale. The upper and lower dia I mond shaped fabric areas of the front of the hose, and (whlch may also be referred to as desgn usually knit upon feed No. 3 of the machine, are indiyams) 18 shown as Smgle yarn and may be referred Gated at 20 and 21, respectively The upper and lower to, it will be understood that each such single yarn may diamond shaped fabric areas of the rear of the hose be made uP of composite Pffindividual yfams (here shown split), usually knit upon feed ,No. .1 of the 0 v The mecihanlsn} l g the fabric of Fig. 2 1s machine, are indicated at 22 and 23, respectively. The shown in Fig- 1, in plac p n a ad s CKma hm upper half diamond, the middle diamond, and the lower and, as part thereof, four pivotally morunted overplaid same time. While each of the overplaid yarns 3'1, '32,

3 yarn fingers 35, 36, 37, and 38 are provided, each of the fingers having a yarn feeding aperture 39 at the free end thereof. The finger 35 is disposed between feeds Nos. 1 and 4 and is adapted to feed its yarn at each of these feeds, finger 36 is disposed between feeds Nos. 3 and 4 and is adapted to feed its yarn at each of these feeds, finger 37 is disposed between feeds Nos. 2 and 3 and is adapted to feed its yarn at each of these feeds, and finger 38 is disposed between feeds Nos. 1 and 2 and is adapted to feed its yarn at each of these feeds. Each of the fingers extends from a collar 40 suitably adjustably secured to the upper end of a vertical shaft 41 which is rotatably disposed in a bearing 42, the latter having a lower extension 43 by means of which the bearing 42 may be fixed to the sinker bed 44 of the machine. Screws 45 extending through the bed 44 in threaded engagement with extensions 43 of bearings 42 serve to hold the latter in position. Each of the four bearings 42 is fixed to the sinker bed midway between an adjacent pair of feeds. Each of the shafts 41 have a member suitably secured to its lower end by means of which the shaft and associated finger may be turned. In the case of the shafts 41 related to the fingers 36 and 37, the members each comprise a pair of arms 46 and 47 disposed at an angle of 135 degrees, while in the case of the shafts 41 related to the fingers 35 and 38, the members each comprise a single arm 48.

The arms 48 extend toward feed No. 1 and are disposed at right angles to their respective fingers 35 and 38, and, similarly, the arms 46, which extend away from feed No. 3, are disposed at right angles to their respective fingers 36 and 37. The arms 46, 48 of fingers 36, 38, and of fingers 35, 37, are parallel. The free ends of arms 46, 47, and 48, all of which are of equal length, i

are suitably apertured to receive therein the suitably formed ends of certain control rods. Acurved control rod 49 extends between and is pivotally connected. to. the arms 46 and 48 of the fingers 36 and 38, whilea similar curved control rod 50 extends between and ispivotally connected to the arms 46 and 48 of the fingers and 37. The ends of the control rods 49 and 50 may be retained in the apertures of the arms 46 and 48 by suitably disposed cotter pins. The fingers 36 and 38 are now connected by rod 49 while fingers 35 and 37 are connected by rod 50 so that each pair of diagonally opposite fingers is adapted to be moved together. The rods 49, 50 extend around the needle cylinder and under the sinker bed 44 of the machine, being so shaped and disposed as to be free thereof. The arms 47 which extend toward each other, have control rods 51 and 52 pivotally connected with the ends thereof to move the fingers 36, 38 and 35, 37, respectively. I:

Also shown in Fig. l is the needle circle53 of the machine, along with the plurality of body yarn fingers 54 and j the throat plate 55, of each of the feeds. At each .feed, the body yarn fingers 54 are adapted to be. selectively placed into and out of feeding positions by the usual means (not shown) which pivotally raises and lowers these fingers about a horizontally disposed pivot pin indicated at 56. As appears in Fig. 4, the overplaid yarn fingers, of which finger 37 is shown here, are disposed below the body yarn fingers 54 when the latter are in their raised non-feeding positions, with the result that thejoverplaid yarn fingers may swing horizontally beneath the raised body yarn fingers abovethe throat plates. 55 at certain times during the knitting operation.v 7..-.

. The other ends ofthe .control rods 51 and 52 ably pivotally connected to the upright arms ,57.,. 5,8,jfof

bell crank levers 59,, 6.0, respectively, so that rocking 73, and 75 in accordance with the position of the turning movements of the latter will cause'the overplaid fingers to correspondingly move. The horizontal arms 61, '62 of the levers 59, 60, are provided, on their inner faces, with rollers 63 which are selectively acted upon by rotary cams 64, 65. The machine is provided with an upright rotary shaft 66 extending through the bed plate' 67, the shaft 66 turning in timed relation to the needle cylinder.

During rotary knitting the shaft 66 rotates once to four rotations of the needle cylinder and in reciprocating knitting the shaft 66 rotates once to a forward and a reverse movement of the needle cylinder. A sleeve 68 is adjustably secured to the upper end of the shaft 66 by means of one or more set screws 69. The cams 64, 65 are ad- ;justably secured to the sleeve 68 by one or more set screws 70 so that the cams may be both angularly and vertically adjusted. The cam 65 has a downwardly extending semi-circular cam face 71 while the cam 64 has a similar but upstanding cam face 72, the cam faces 71 and 72 being diametrically opposed.

Each of the levers 59, 60 is provided with a centrally disposed sleeve bushing 73 within which a horizontal shaft 74 is rotatably disposed. The shaft 74 may also turn within a bearing base member 75 of base 76 by means of which the apparatus is secured to the bed plate 67 of the machine with the adjustable screws 77 which extend through slots in the base 76 in threaded engagement with the bed plate 67. The opposite ends of shaft 74 are similarly diametrically slotted to receive therein the flat springs 78 and 79, which extend from the chaft 74 along the outer sides of the lever arms 61, 62 to the terminal ends thereof where the flat springs are slidingly received within the slotted outwardly extending projections 80, 80 of the lever arms. The flat spring 79 is held in place at one end of the shaft 74 by means of a suitable adjusting screw 8.1 which extends through the slotted cap 82 in threaded engagement with the shaft 74. Similarly fiat spring 78 is held in place at the other end of shaft 74 by a screw 81 extending through slotted cap 83 in threaded engagement with the shaft 74. The screws 81 also serve to fixedly se- 3 curethe caps 82 and 83 in position on the shaft 74.

. In order to selectively turn the shaft 74 to any one of three angular positions, the cap 83 is provided with an upright arm 84, the upper end of which is suitably apertured to pivotally receive therein one end of a control rod 85, the other end of which is similarly connected to one end of an arm 86 of a pivotally mounted pattern lever 87. The other arm 88 of lever 87 is provided with a nose 89 which is adapted to ride against the cams 90 and 91 afiixed to the outer circumference of the regular indexable main pattern control drum 92, the arm 88 being urged toward the drum 92 by a suitably anchored tension spring 93 secured to the arm 86 of lever 87. When the nose 89 of lever 87 rides upon any one of the several cams 90 on the drum 92, Fig. 1, the arm 84 is positioned vertically as in Fig. 5 to hold the shaft 74 in neutral position wherein the fiat springs 78, 79 are horizontal. With the nose 89 on one of the several earns 91', as shown in its outer dotted line position 94, Fig. 1, the arm 84 is caused to turn to the right, Fig. 5, to its dotted line position 95 to hold shaft 74 in such position that the fiat springs 78, 79 are caused to be tilted upwardly. When the nose 89 of lever 87 is free of the cams 90 and 91 and'is spaced from the face of the drum 92, as shown in dotted line position 96 of Fig. l, the action of spring 93 is such as to turn arm 84 to the left, Fig. 5, to its dotted line position 97, to hold shaft 74 in such position that the flat springs 78, 79 are caused to be tilted downwardly, The rocking movements of the levers 59 and 60, as they are caused to move by movements of the flat springs 78, 79,:which in turn are moved by the shaft 74, are limited by pairs of adjustable stop screws 98, 98, set in the opposite ends of individual stop plates 99, 99fixed to the sleeves .73 of the levers, the stop screws taking against the upper face of the bed plate 67 of the machine.

The shaft 74 is free to turn within the bearings 73,

arm 84 which, via lever 87 and rod 85, is under control of the main cam drum 92. Turning of the shaft 74 causes the two fiat springs 78 and 79 to be accordingly tilted, andsince these are connected to the arms 61 and 62of the levers 59 and 60 by means of the blocks '80, 80, this-movement of the fiat springs will cause appropriassesses ate movement of the levers 59 and 60. Referring .to Fig. 5, with "the nose 89 of lever .87 in full line position, Fig. 1, the turning arm 84 is in full line upright position which causes shaft 74 to position spring 78 (and spring 79) in full line horizontal position with the lever 60 (and lever 59) to be in its full line vertical position. In this position, known as the neutral positions of the overplaid yarn fingers as shown in Fig. 1, the rollers 63 are spaced from the constantly turning cams 64, 65 and will not be moved thereby. The levers 59 and '60 will thus remain in their full line vertical positions.

When the nose 89 of lever87 is in dotted line position 94 on a cam 91, Fig. l the turning arm '84 is moved to its dotted line position 95, Fig. which causes shaft 74 to move spring 78 (and spring .79.) to its uppermost dotted line position .100and-this inturn causes the lever .60 (and lever 59) to turn to its rear dotted line position 101, this position of lever 60 being adjustably determined by :the action of its rearmost stop screws 98 in contact with the bed plate 67. This position of lever -60 .(and 59) will raise its roller 63 to position A in the path of rotary cam 65, to be recurrently engaged by the semi-circular cam face 71 thereof, thereby moving the roller to position B. As roller 63 of lever 60 is lowered to position B by cam 71, the lever itself is moved to position 103 from its position 101, this action causing the spring 78 to be further flexed to position 102. Then as cam 71 moves out of contact with roller 63, the lever 60 under the action of flexed spring 7 8 is caused to move back to its position 101 at which time its roller 63 returns to position .A and spring 78 returns to the lesser flexed position 100. Thus each time (for one half of each revolution of shaft 66) cam face 71 acts to depressingly engage roller 63 from position A to position B, lever 60 is caused to move from position 101 to position 103, and at the same time spring 78 is further flexed from position 100 to position 102. And each time (for the other half of each revolution of shaft 66) earn face 71 is free of roller 63, the spring 78 returns the lever 60 from position 103 to position 101 thus returning the roller 63 from position B to position .A, during the course of which spring 78 returns to position 100 from position 102. Accordingly the lever 60 is rocked back and forth in timed relation to the rotation of shaft 66, and since lever 60 is connected, via control .rod 52, to the pair of overplaid yarn fingers 35 and 37, the latter are accordingly rocked to swing their feeding ends across the needle circle 53. When the lever 60 is in the position 101 of Fig. 5, the control rod 52 has been moved to the right and the overplaid fingers 35 and '37 have been moved to the positions shown in Fig. 9 wherein they are in feeding positions at feeds Nos. l-and 3;

i when the lever 60 is in the position 103 of Fig. '5, control rod 52 has been moved to the left and the overplaid fingers 35 and 37 have been moved to the positions shown in Fig. 10 wherein they are in non-feeding positions at feeds Nos. '1 and 3.

In connection with the above description of Fig. as it relates to lever 60, it will be understood that lever 59 is similarly moved by the shaft 74 and -its spring 79 to an initial position corresponding to the position 101 of lever 60, and that its spring 79 and roller 63 are also similarly positioned. The cant face 71, as it rotates, alternately engages and depresses the diametrically spaced rollers 63 of the levers 59 and 60, so that the lever 59 is caused to traverse the same rocking action as lever 60, but at a different time in relation tothe rotation 'of shaft 66. Inasmuch as cam face 71 is semi-circular in extent, its action causes levers 59 and 60 to be rocked in alternation, so that when lever 60 is in the 101 position, lever 59 is in the 103 position, and vice versa. 'When lever 59 is in the 101 position, its control rod 51 will have moved the overplaid yarn fingers 36 and 38 to their feeding positions as shown in Fig. at feeds Nos. 1 and 3,

while, when lever 59 is in the 103 position, its control rod '51 will have moved the overplaid yarn fingers 36v and.38-to their nonfeeding positions at feeds Nos. 1 and 3 asshown in Fig. 9. Thus'for each revolution of shaft 66, the opposite pairs of the overplaid yarn-fingers have each been placed in feeding and in non'feeding positions at the feeds Nos. 1 and 3.

At other times it is necessary that the overplaid yarn fingers be similarly moved with respect to feeds Nos. 2 and 4. For this the main drunr92 is moved so that there is no cam beneath the iev'er 87 and .its nose 89 is then in theposition indicated at 96, Fig. 1, at which time spring .93 will cause the shaft to he 'tur'ned so that arm 84 is in the position 97 in Fig. 5. will cause lever 60 to assume the forward position shown at 104, its roller 63 will be 'in position C, whileits spring 78 will be tilted to position L105, the forward stop screw 98 limiting the movefrnent of lever 60. The action of rotary cam 64 is now similar to the action of cam 65 except that its cam face 72 .acts to raise roller 63ffrom position C to position D, which causes lever '60 to .be' moved from position 104 to position 106 and at the same time .causes spring 78 to be further flexed as it is moved from position 105 to position 107. Similarly, when roller 63 is free of the cam face 72, the action of spring 78, in returning from position 107 to position 105, causes lever 60 to be returned from position 106 to position 104, the roller 63 at thesame time returning to position C'from position D. Inasmuch as cam 64 is diametrically opposed to cam 65 on shaft 66, the timing of the rocking action of lever 60 by cant face 72 will be accordingly different from the timing of the rocking action caused .by the cam face 71. The action of the cam face 72 on the roller '63 of the lever 59, willalso cause that lever to rock between the 104 and the 106 (positions. When the lever '59 is in the 104 position, the lever 60 will be in the 106 position, and when the lever 59 is in the 106 position, the lever 60 will be in the 104 position. I

When the lever 60 is in the 104 position, the control rod 52 will cause the overplaid yarn fingers 35 and '37 to be in feeding positions at feeds Nos. 2 and 4 as in Fig. 8; when the lever 60 is in the 106 position, the control rod 52'will cause the overplaid yarn fingers 35 and 37 to be in the non-feeding positions at feeds Nos. 2 and 4 as in 'Fig. 7. Also, when the lever 59 is in the 104 position, the control rod 51 will cause overplaid yarn fingers 36 and 38 to be in feeding positions at feeds Nos. '2 and 4; and when the lever 59 is in the 106 position, the control rod 51 will cause the overplaid yarn fingers 36 and 38 to be in non-feeding positions at feeds Nos. 2 and 4. p

In Figs. 7 and 8 all of the .body yarn fingers 54-at feed's Nos. 2 and 4 are in their raised non-feeding positions so that the overplaid yarn fingers may alternately swing across the needle circle to feeding positions at these feeds beneath the raised body yarn fingers and to nonfeeding positions inside the needle circle. In feeding positions, the overplaid yarn fingers are above the throat plates 55 at feeds Nos. 2 and 4 to feed their yarns to selected overplaid forming needles. At feeds Nos; 1' and 3, selected ones of the body yarn fingers 54 are in feeding positions at their throat plates 55 to feed their body yarns to selected needles forming an opposite pair of the diamond shaped fabric areas of the hose, while the overplaid design is incorporated therein at the feeds Nos. 2 and 4. Similarly, in Fig'sp9 and 10 all of the'b'ody yarn fingers 54 at feeds Nos. 1 and 3 are in their raised non-feeding positions so that the overplaid yarn fingers may now alternately swing across the needle circle to feeding positions at these feeds beneath the raised bo'dy yarn fingers and to non-feeding positions inside the 'needle circle. In feeding positions, the overplaid yarn fingers are above the throat plates at feeds Nos. 1 and '3 to feed their yarns to selected overplaid forming needles. At feeds Nos. 2 and 4, selected ones ofthe body yarn fingers 5-4 are in feeding positions at theirthroat plates ,55 to feed their body yarns to selected needles forming '7 an intermediate pair of the diamond shaped fabric areas of the hose, while the overplaid design is incorporated therein at feeds Nos. 1 and 3. There are times, during reciprocating and rotary knitting, when no overplaid design yarns are being incorporated into the fabric and at 'such times the overplaid design fingers are maintained in their neutral positions, Fig. 1, by a cam 90 on the main drum 92. As may be seen, the disposition of the cams 190 on the drum 92 is such that there are a number of times during which the overplaid yarn fingers are in their neutral positions, at which times the machine may :be operated to knit at some orat all of its four feeds. The overplaid design formed on a four feed machine by the means of the present invention is of the four yarn I type wherein each straight lineportion thereof extending between the interior portions of a pair of adjoining areas (and across the suture line therebetween) is formed of a single yarn as distinguished from the eightyarn type of overplaid wherein each similarly disposed straight line portion thereof is formed ofa pair of yarns changed at the suture line, so that in the four yarn type a single yarn does the work of a pair of yarns in the eight yarn typ I claim:

1. A circular knitting machine having a single feed, generally radially extending body yarn fingers at said feed vertically movable to raised non-feeding and to lowered feeding positions, an additional yarn finger disposed so as to be generally horizontally movable to non-feeding and to feeding positions at said feed, the feeding position of said additional finger transversely underlying said body yarn fingers in their raised non-feeding positions while the non-feeding position of said additional finger is such as .to permit said body yarn fingers to be in their lowered feeding positions.

2. A circular knitting machine having a pair of feeds, body yarn fingers at each of said feeds movable to raised non-feeding and to lowered feeding positions, an additional yarn finger movable to non-feeding and to feeding positions at each of said pair of feeds, the feeding position of said additional finger at each of said pair of feeds being beneath the body yarn fingers in their raised nonfeeding positions while the non-feeding position of said additional finger at each of said pair of feeds is such as to permit said body yarn fingers to be in their lowered feeding positions.

3. A circular knitting machine having a pair of feeds and adapted to reciprocate to knit at said feeds, a yarn finger adapted to be periodically placed in feeding and in non-feeding positions at each of said pair of feeds during reciprocating knitting, a rotary shaft, a pair of spaced cams operatively related to said shaft, and a lever operatively related to said yarn finger and adapted to be selectively operated by said pair -ofcams, one of said cams acting to periodically place said yarn finger in feeding and in non-feeding positions at one of said pair of feeds while the other of said cams acts to periodically place said yarn finger in feeding and in non-feeding positions at the other of said pair of feeds.

4. A circular knitting machine having four circumferentially spaced feeds adapted to reciprocate to knit at said feeds, a pair of yarn fingers adapted to be placed in and to remain in non-feeding positions and also adapted tobe periodically placed infeeding and in non-feeding positions at an opposite pair of said feeds and at the intervening pair of said feeds during reciprocating knitting, a rotary shaft, a pair of axially spaced cams secured to said shaft, said cams being semi-circular and diametrically opposed, a lever operatively related to said pair of yarn fingers and adapted to be operated by said pair of cams, and pattern means, said pattern means positioning said lever to be free of said pair of cams whereby said pair of yarn fingers is placed in and maintained jin' it s non-feeding positions, said pattern means also po- *sitioning said-lever to be acted upon by one of said pair of cams to periodically place said pair of yarn fingers in feeding and in non-feeding positions at said opposite pair of feeds, said pattern means also positioning said lever to be acted upon by the other of said pair of cams to periodically place said pair of yarn fingers in feeding and in non-feeding positions at said intervening pair of feeds.

5. A circular knitting machine having a pair of feeds and adapted to reciprocate to knit at said feeds, a yarn finger adapted to be placed in and to remain in non-feeding position and also adapted to be periodically placed in feeding and in non-feeding positions at each of said pair of feeds during reciprocating knitting, a rotary shaft, a pair of spaced cams secured to said shaft, said cams being ,semicircular and diametrically opposed, a lever operatively related to said yarn finger and adapted to be operated by said pair of cams, and pattern means, said pattern means positioning said lever to be free of said pair of earns whereby said yarn finger is placed in and maintained in its non-feeding position, said pattern means also positioning said lever to be acted upon by one of :said pair of cams to periodically place said yarn finger in feeding and in non-feeding positions at one of said pair of feeds, and said pattern means also positioning said lever to be acted upon by the other of said pair of cams to place said yarn finger in feeding and in nonfeeding positions at the other of said pair of feeds. 7 6. A circular knitting machine having a pair of feeds and adapted to reciprocate to knit at said feeds, a yarn finger adapted to be placed in and to remain in non-feeding position and also adapted to be periodically placed in feeding and in non-feeding positions at each of said pair of feeds during reciprocating knitting, a rotary shaft, a pair of spaced cams secured to said shaft, said cams being semi-circular and diametrically opposed, a lever operatively related to said yarn finger and adapted to be moved by said pair of cams, pattern means, and spring means between said pattern means and said lever, said pattern means positioning said lever to be free of said pair of cams whereby said yarn finger is placed in and maintained in its non-feeding position, said pattern means also'positioning said lever to be acted upon by one of said pair of cams and by said spring means to periodically place said yarn finger in feeding and in non-feeding positions at one of said pair of feeds, and said pattern means also positioning said lever to be acted upon by.the other of said pair of cams and by said spring means to periodically place said yarn finger in feeding and in non-feeding positions at the other of said pair of feeds.

7. A circular knitting machine having four circumferentially spaced feeds and adapted to reciprocate to knit at said feeds, four circumferentially spaced yarn fingers adapted to be placed in and to remain in nonfeeding positions, each opposite pair of said yarn fingers also being adapted to be periodically placed in feeding and in non-feeding positions at an opposite pair of said feeds and at the intervening pair of said feeds during reciprocating knitting, a rotary shaft, a pair of axially spaced cams secured to said shaft, said cams being semicircular and diametrically opposed, a pair of spaced levers, each of said levers being operatively related to an opposite pair of said yarn fingers and adapted to be moved by said pair of cams, and pattern means, said pattern means positioning said levers to be free of said cams whereby said yarn'fingers are placed in and maintained in their non-feeding positions, said pattern means also positioning said levers to be acted upon in alternation by one of said pair of cams to periodically and alternately place each opposite pair of said yarn fingers in feeding and in non-feeding positions at each of said opposite pair of said feeds, and said pattern means also positioning said levers to be acted upon in alternation by the other of said pair of cams to periodically and alternately place each opposite pair of said yarn fingers in 9" feeding and in non-feeding positions at each of said intervening pair of feeds.

, 8. A circular knitting machine having four circumferentially spaced feeds and adapted to reciprocate to knit at said feeds, four circumferentially spaced yarn fingers adapted to be placed in and to remain in non-feeding positions, each opposite pair of yarn fingers also being adapted to be periodically placed in feeding and in nonfeeding positions at an opposite pair of said feeds and at the intervening pair of said feeds "during reciprocating knitting, a rotary shaft, a pair of axially spaced cams secured to said shaft, said cams being semi-circular and diametrically opposed, a pair of levers diametrically opposed relative to said shaft, each of said levers being operatively related to an opposite pair of said yarn fingers, pattern means, and spring means between said pattern means and said levers, said pair of levers being movable by said cams and by said'spring means, said pattern means positioning said levers to be free of said cams whereby said yarn fingers are placed in and maintained in their 'non feeding positions, said pattern means also positioning said levers to be acted upon by one of said cams and by said spring means in alternation to periodically and alternately place each opposite .pair of said yarn fingers in feeding and in non-feeding positions at each of said opposite pair of feeds, and said pattern means also positioning said levers to be acted upon in alternation by the other of said pair of cams and by said spring means to periodically and alternately place each opposite pair of said yarn fingers in feeding and in non-feeding positions at each of said intervening pair of said feeds.

'9. A circular knitting machine having a pair of feeds and adapted to reciprocate to knitaat said feeds, a yarn finger adapted to be placed in non-feeding position relative to said pair of feeds and also adapted to be repeatedly placed in feeding and in non-feeding positions at each of said pair of feeds, a rotary shaft, a pair of axially spaced cams secured to said shaft, said cams being semi-circular and diametrically opposed, a lever operatively related to said yarn finger, pattern means, and spring means interposed between said lever and said pattern means, said lever being movable by said cams and by said pattern means and bysaid spring means, said pattern means positioning said lever to be free of said cams to place said yarn finger in its non-feeding position, said pattern means also positioning said lever to be acted upon by one of said cams, the said one of said cams acting to periodically place said yarn finger in non-feeding position at one of said pair of feeds and at the same time acting to energize said spring means to periodically return said yarn finger to its feeding position at said :one of said pair of feeds, and said pattern means also positioning said lever to be acted :upon by the other of :said earns, the said other of said cams acting to periodically place said yarn finger in non-feeding position at the other of said pair of feeds and at the same time acting to energize said spring means to periodically return said yarn finger to its feeding position at the other of said pair :of feeds.

10. A circular knitting machine having a circle of needles and having means to reciprocate said needle 'circle to knit a yarn thereon at the first and at thesec- -nd of at least a pair of feeds, a yarn finger adapted to feed said yarn to said needle circle at each of said feeds, said yarn finger being actuated during each of a first series of needle circle reciprocations to periodically place said finger in feeding and in non-feeding positions at said first feed during said knitting of said yarn thereat, said finger also being actuated during each of 'a second series of needle circle reciprocations'to periodically place said finger in feeding and in non feeding positions at said second feed during said knitting of said yarn thereat, and pattern controlled means to so actuate said finger.

"11. A circular knitting machine .having ,a circle of needles and having means to reciprocate said needle? circle to knit a yarn thereon at the first and at the 'SBGf 0nd of at least a pair of feeds, a yarn'finger adapted to feed said yarn to said needle circle at each of said feeds, a rotary member adapted to rotate once per needle circle reciprocation, said finger being actuated during eachof a first series of rotations of said member to periodically place said finger in feeding and in non-feeding positions at said first feed during said knitting of said yarn thereat, said finger also being actuated during each of a second series of rotations of said member to periodically place said finger in feeding and in non-feeding positions at said second feed during said knitting of said yarn thereat, and pattern controlled means including an operative connection between said member and said finger whereby the former is adapted to so actuate the latter.

12. A circular knitting machine having a circle of needles and having means to reciprocate said needle circle to knit four yarns thereon at four circumferentially spaced feeds, four circumferentially spaced yarn fingers each adapted to feed one of said four yarns and arranged so that each adjacent pair of said fingers is adapted to feed its pair of yarns in alternation at one of said feeds, each such adjacent pair of said fingers being actuated during each of a series of successive needle circle reciprocations to alternately ,and periodically place the first and the second finger of each such adjacent pair thereof in feeding and in non-feeding positions during each reciprocation of said series thereof at the appropriate one of said feeds during said knitting thereat in such manner that when said first finger is in said feeding positions said second finger is in said non-feeding positions and vice versa, and :pattern controlled means common to said fingers. to so actuate the same.

13. A circular knitting machine having a circle of needlesand having means to reciprocate said needle circle to knit four yarns thereon at four circumferentially spaced feeds, four circumferentially spaced yarn fingers each adapted to feed one of said four yarns and arranged so that one adjacent pair of said fingers is adapted to feed its pair of yarns in alternation at one feed of an opposite pair thereof while the other adjacent pair of said fingers is adapted to feed its pair of yarns in alternation at the other feed of said opposite pair thereof, each of the opposite pairs of said fingers being actuated in unison during each of a first series of needle circle reciprocations to alternately and periodically place each of said opposite pairs of fingers in feeding and in non-feeding positions at a first opposite pair of said feeds during said reciprocating knitting in such manner that when one of said opposite pairs of fingers is in said feeding positions the other of said opposite pairs of fingers is in said nonfeeding positions and vice versa, each of said opposite pairs of said fingers also being actuated in unison during each of a second series of needle circle reciprocations to alternately and periodically place each of said opposite pairs of fingers in feeding and in non-feeding positions'at the remaining opposite pair of said feeds during said reciprocating knitting in such manner that when one of said opposite pair of fingers is in feeding positions the other of said opposite pair of fingers is in said nonfeeding positions and vice versa, and pattern controlled means common to said fingers to so actuate the same.

14. A circular knitting machine having a needle circle and having means to reciprocate said needle circle to knit four yarns thereon, a member adapted to rotate in timed relation to each needle circle reciprocatiom four yarn fingers each adapted to feed one of said four" yarns to said needle circle during said reciprocating knitting, each of said fingers being pivotally and operatively supported by said machine at one of four equally circumferentially spaced fixed locations thereon, the fingers of .each opposite pair thereof being operatively related -to be actuated in unison during each of a series of rotations of said member to alternately and periodically placesaid fingers of each of said oppositapair's-thereof in feedingand in-non-feeding positions relative to said needle circle during said knitting thereon in such manner that when the fingers of one of said opposite pairs thereof are in said feeding positions the fingers of the other of said opposite pairs thereof are in said non-feeding positions and vice versa, and pattern controlled means common to said four fingers including an operative connection between said member and said fingers whereby the former is adapted to so actuate the latter, said means also placing said'fingers in positions other than said described positions wherein they are idle relative to said needle circle.

15. A circular knitting machine having a needle circle and having means to reciprocate said needle circle to knit four yarns thereon at four circumferentially spaced feeds, a member adapted to rotate in timed relation to each needle circle reciprocation, four yarn guides each adapted to feed one of said four yarns to said needle circle during said reciprocating knitting, each of said fingers being pivotally and operatively supported by said machine at one of four equally circumferentially spaced fixed locations thereon, the fingers of each opposite pair thereof being operatively related to be actuated in unison during each of a series of rotations of said member to alternately and periodically place said fingers of each of said opposite pairs thereof in feeding and in nonfeeding positions during said knitting at said four feeds in such manner that when the fingers of one of said opposite pairs thereof are in said feeding positions the fingers of the other of said opposite pairs thereof are in said non-feeding positions and vice versa, and pattern controlled means common to said four fingers including an operative connection between said member and said fingers whereby the former is adapted to so actuate the latter, said means also placing said fingers in positions other than said described positions thereof wherein they are idle relative to said feeds.

16. A circular knitting machine having a circle of needles and having means to reciprocate said needle circle to knit a first body yarn at the first of and a second body yarn at the second of at least a pairof circumferentially spaced feeds to form a corresponding pair of adjoining first and second diamond shaped body fabric areas having wales in common and having common suture joined edges extending at a first angle to their wales, a member adapted to rotate in timed relation to each needle circle reciprocation, a yarn finger adapted to feed a design yarn to said needle circle during said reciprocation thereof to permit the group of needles forming said common wales to knit said design yarn to incorporate the same in both of said 'areas during their formation, said finger being so arranged as to provide a first feeding disposition of said design yarn at said first feed and a second feeding disposition of said design yarn at said second feed, said finger being actuated during each of a first series of rotations of said member to periodically place said finger in feeding and in non-feeding positions at said second feeding disposition of said design yarn so that those of said group of needles which are to incorporate said design yarn in said first area may have said design yarn fed thereto during said formation of said first area at said first feed, said finger also being actuated during each of a second series of rotations of said member to periodically place said finger in feeding and in non-feeding positions at said first feeding disposition of said design yarn so that those of said group of needles which are to incorporate said design yarn in said second area may have said design yarn fed thereto during said formation of said second area at said second feed, said machine having pattern controlled means including an operative connection between said member and said finger whereby the former is adapted to so actaute the latter and to cause said group of needles to knit said design yarn independently of said body yarn knitting at said feeds to form a line of design stitches thereof incorporated in said com- .mon wales and extending uninterruptedly across said suture joined edges of said areas at a second angle to said wales to thereby provide an overplaid design of said design yarn in said areas.

i 17. A circular knitting machine having a circle of needles and having means to reciprocate said needle circle to knit a first body yarn at the first of and a second body yarn at the second of at least a pair of circumferentially spaced feeds to form a corresponding pair of adjoining first and second diamond shaped body fabric areas having wales in common and having common suture joined edges extending at a first angle to their wales, a member adapted to rotate in timed relation to each needle circle reciprocation, a yarn finger adapted to feed a design yarn to said needle circle during said reciprocation thereof to permit the group of needles forming said common wales to knit said design yarn to incorporate the same in both of said areas during their formation, said finger being so arranged as to provide a first feeding disposition of said design yarn relative to said first feed and a second feeding disposition of said design yarn relative to said second feed, said finger being actuated during each of a first series of rotations of said member to periodically place said finger in feeding and in non-feeding positions at said first feeding disposition of said design yarn so that those of said group of needles which are to incorporate said design yarn in said first area may have said design yarn fed thereto during said formation of said first area at said first feed, said finger also being actuated during each of a second series of rotations of said member to periodically place said finger in feeding and in nonfeeding positions at said second feeding disposition of said design yarn so that those of said group of needles which are to incorporate said design yarn in said second area may have said design yarn fed thereto during said formation of said second area at said second feed, said machine having pattern controlled means including an operative connection between said member and said finger whereby the former is adapted to so actuate the latter and to cause said group of needles to knit said design yarn independently of said body yarn knitting at said feeds to form a line of design stitches thereof incorporated in said common wales and extending uninterruptedly across said suture joined edges of said areas at a second angle to said wales to thereby provide an overplaid design of said design yarn in said areas.

18. A circular knitting machine having a circle of needles and having means to reciprocate said needle circle to knit a first body yarn at the first of and a second body yarn at the second of at least a pair of circumferentially spaced feeds to form a corresponding pair of adjoining first and second diamond shaped body fabric areas having wales in common and having common suture joined edges extending at a first angle totheir wales, a member adapted to rotate in timed relation to each needle circle reciprocation, a yarn finger adapted to feed a design yarn to said needle circle during said reciprocation thereof to permit the group of needles forming said common wales to knit said design yarn to incorporate the same 'in both of said areas during their formation, said finger being actuated during each of a first series of rotations of said member to periodically place said design yarn in feeding and in non-feeding positions relative to said needle circle so that those of said group of needles which are to incorporate said design yarn in said first area may have said design yarn fed thereto during said formation of said first area at said first feed, said finger also being actuated during each of a second series of rotations of said member to periodically place said design yarn in feeding and in non-feeding positions relative to said needle circle so that those of said group of needles which are to incorporate said design yarn in said second area may have said design yarn fed thereto during said formation of said second area at said second feed, said machine having pattern controlled means including an operative connection between said member and said finger whereby the former is adapted to so actuate the latter and rename said group of needles to knit said :design yarn independently of said body yarn knitting at said feeds to form a line of design stitches thereof incorporated in said common Wales and extending uninterruptedly across said suture joined edges of said areas at a second angle to said Wales to thereby provide an overplaid design of said design yarn in saidareas, said means also placing said finger in a position other than said described positions thereof wherein it is idle relative to said needle circle.

19. A circular knitting machine having a circle of needles and having means to reciprocate said needle circle to knit a first and a second body yarn thereon to form a corresponding pair of adjoining first and second diamond shaped body fabric areas having wales in common and having common suture joined edges extending at a first angle to their wales, a member adapted to rotate in timed relation to each needle circle reciprocation, a yarn finger adapted to feed a design yarn to said needle circle during said reciprocation thereof to permit the group of needles forming said common wales to knit said design yarn to incorporate the same in both of said areas during their formation, said finger being actuated during each of a first series of rotations of said member to periodically place said "design yarn in feeding and in non-feeding positions relative to said needle circle some: those of said group of needles which are to incorporate said design yarn in said first area may have said design yarn .fed thereto during said formation of said first area, said finger also being actuated during each of a second series of rotations of said member to periodically place said design yarn in feeding and in non feeding positions relative to said needle circle so that those of said v:g'rolip of needles which are to incorporate said design yarn in said second area mayhave said design yarn fed thereto during said formation of said second area, said machine of design stitches thereof incorporated in said common wales and extending uninterruptedly across said suture joined edges of said areas at a second angle to said wales to vthereby provide an overplaid design of said design J yarn in said areas.

20. A circular knitting machine as set forth in claim l9 b wherein said means is adapted to place said finger in a position other than said described positions wherein it is idle relative to said needle circle. v

21. A circular knitting machine having a circle of needles and having means to reciprocate said needle circle to knit body yarn thereon at four circumferentially spaced feeds to provide tubular fabric formed of a plurality of adjoining diamond shaped body fabric areas having common suture joined edges extending angularly to their wales in four separate walewise extending zig-zag suture lines wherein those of said areas formed at each adjacent pair of said feeds have a group of common wales formed on a related group of needles, there being four of such common wale and related needle groups, four yarn fingers each adapted to feed a design yarn to one of said four needle groups to permit each of said needle groups to knit one of said design yarns to incorporate the same in each of the areas with which eachsuch needle group is related, each of said fingers being pivotally and operatively supported by said machine at one of four equally circumferentially spaced fixed locations thereon, a-mernber adapted to rotate in timed relation to each needle circle reciprocation, the fingers of each opposite pair of said four fingers being operatively related to be actuated in unison during each of a series of rotations of said member to alternately and periodically place said fingers of each of said opposite pairs thereof in feeding and in non-feeding positions at said feeds during the formation of :said areas in such manner that when the fingers of one of said opposite pairs thereof are in said feeding positions the fingers of the other of said opposite Ipairs thereof are in said n0n-feeding positions and vice versa, said machine having pattern controlled means common to said four fingers including an operative connection between said member and said fingers whereby the former is adapted to so actuate the latter and to cause said four design yarns to be knit independently of said body yarn knitting at said four feeds to form four separate walewise extending zig-zag lines of design stitches of said four design yarns, the said zig-zag suture and design lines being so disposed that each straight line portion of each of said lines of design stitches extends uninterruptedly across the suture joined edges of an adjoining pair of said areas angularly to their Wales and is incorporated therein in said common wales thereto to thereby provide a four yarn type of overplaid design for said tubular fabric, said means also placing said fingers in positions other than said described positions thereof wherein they are idle relative to said feeds.

22. vA circular knitting machine having a circle of needles and having means to reciprocate said needlecircle to knit body yarn thereon at four circumferentially spaced feeds to provide tubular f'abric formed of a plurality of adjoining diamond shaped body fabric areas having common suture joined edges extending angularly to their wales in four separate walewise extending zig-zag suture lines wherein those of said areas formed at .each adjacent 'pair of said feeds have a group of common wales formed on a related group of needles there being four of such common wale and related needle groups, four circumferentially spaced yarn fingers each adaptedto feed adesign yarn to one of said four needle groups --to permit each :of said needle groups to knit one of said design yarns to incorporate the same in each of the areas with which each such needle group is related, a member adapted to rotate in timed relation to each needle circle reciprocation, the fingers of each opposite pair of said four fingers being operatively related to be actuated in unison during each of a series of rotations of said member to alternately and periodically place said fingers of each of said opposite pairs thereof in feeding and in non-feeding positions at said feeds during the formation of said areas in such manner that when the fingers of one of said opposite pairs thereof are in said feeding positions the fingers of the other of said opposite pairs thereof are in said non-feeding positions and vice versa, said machine having pattern controlled means common to said four fingers including an operative connection between said member and said fingers whereby the former is adapted to so actuate the latter and to cause said four design yarns to be knit independently of said body yarn knitting at said four feeds to form four separate walewise extending zig-zag lines of design stitches of said four design yarns, the said zig-zag suture and design lines being so disposed that each straight line portion of each of said lines of design stitches extends uninterruptedly across the suture joined edges of an adjoining pair of said areas angularly to their wales and is incorporated therein in said wales common thereto to thereby provide a four yarn type of overplaid design for said tubular fabric.

23. A circular knitting machine having a needle circle and having means to reciprocate said needle circle to knit body yarn thereon at four circumferentially spaced feeds to provide tubular fabric formed of a plurality of adjoining diamond shaped body fabric areas having common suture joined edges extending angularly to their wales in four separate walewise extending zig-zag suture lines wherein those of said areas formed at each adjacent pair of said feeds have a group of common wales formed on a related group of needles there being four such common wale and related needle groups, four circumferentially spaced yarn fingers each adapted to feed a design yarn to one of said four needle groups to permit each of said heedle groups to knit one of said design yarns to incorp'orate the same in each of the areas with which each such needle group is related, the fingers of each opposite pair of said four fingers being operatively related to be actuated in unison during each of a series of needle circle reciprocations to alternately and periodically place said fingers of each.of said opposite pairs thereof in feeding and in non-feeding positions at said feeds during the formation of said areas in such manner that when the fingers of one of said opposite pairs thereof are in said feeding positions the fingers of the other of said opposite pairs thereof are in said non-feeding positions and vice versa, said machine having pattern controlled means common to said four fingers to so actuate the same and to cause said four design yarns to be knit independently of said body yarn knitting at said four feeds to form four separate walewise extending zig-zag lines of design stitches of said four design yarns, the said zig-zag suture and design lines being so disposed that each straight line portion of each of said lines of design stitches extends uninterruptcdly across the suiture joined edges of an adjoining pair of said areas angularly to their'wales' and is incorporated therein in said wales common thereto to thereby provide a four yarn type of overplaid design for said tubular fabric.

24. A circular knitting machine having a needle circle and having means to reciprocate said needle circle to knit body yarn thereon to provide tubular fabric formed of a plurality of adjoining diamond shaped body fabric areas having common suture joined edges extending angularly to their wales in four separate walewise extending zig-zag suture lines wherein those of said areas joined by each of said zig-zag suture lines have a group of common wales formed on a related group of needles there being four of such common wale and related needle groups, four circumferentially spaced yarn fingers each adapted to feed a design yarn to one of said four needle groups to permit each of said needle groups to knit one of said design yarns to incorporate the same in each of the areas with which each such needle group is related, the fingers of each opposite pair of said four fingers being operatively related to be actuated in unison during each of a series of needle circle reciprocations to alternately and periodically place said fingers of each of said opposite pairs thereof in feeding and in non-feeding positions during the formation of said areas in such manner that when the fingers of one of said opposite pairs thereof are in said feeding positions the fingers of the other of said opposite pairs thereof are in said non-feeding positions and vice versa, said machine having pattern controlled means common to said four fingers to so actuate the same and to cause said four design yarns to be knit independently of said body yarn knitting to form four separate walewise extending zig-zag lines of design stitches of said four design yarns, each of said zig-zag suture and design lines being so disposed that each straight line portion of each of said lines of design stitches extends uninterruptedly across the suture joined edges of an adjoining pair of said areas angularly to their wales and is incorporated therein in said wales common thereto to thereby provide a four yarn type of overplaid design for said tubular fabric.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 23,929 Green Jan. 25, 1955 2,217,022 Lawson et a1 Oct. 8, 1940 2,235,726 Pass Mar. 18, 1941 2,680,961 Thurston June 15, 1954 2,775,880 Philip Jan. 1, 1957 2,919,565 Levin Jan. 5, 1960 2,924,956 Levin Feb. 16, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 308,421 Great Britain Mar. 28, 1929 

